Biodynamic Agricultural Association
Demeter UK and BDA Organic CertificationAPPLICATION FORM and CONVERSION PLANFor conversion of farms, gardens and other holdingsWelcome to Demeter UK and BDA Organic CertificationWe certify to two standards. We can certify you to the minimum UK organic standards, in line with EU regulation 834/2007 and associated regulations. In addition, we can also certify to the international Demeter standards for biodynamic production. Our Demeter certification includes organic certification. Our organic and Demeter Production Standards are available on our website .uk. Please do read these!How to applyPlease use this form to apply for organic or Demeter conversion for your farm, market garden, vineyard, orchard or smallholding. Please fill out the form as best you can, and feel free to add pictures, use extra space, and attach any other supporting documents. Don’t forget to sign the form at the end, and to send us a map of the holding with the application form. If you are already certified with another certification body and want to transfer to our certification, please use our transfer form instead.Application, inspection and certificationWhen the Certification Office receives your completed application along with the application fee, we will review it and send you an application report as well as your in-conversion certificate. Normally the conversion period for your land will begin on the date that your application form was received by us in the office. Please bear in mind that you must work to the standards from the day your conversion starts.Within two months of receiving your application, one of our inspectors will be in touch to arrange to visit your holding. Before the visit, your inspector will send you a questionnaire, which you need to fill out in advance. During the visit, your inspector will want to learn about the systems on your holding, check your record keeping, and take a tour of the holding to see the land, crops and livestock. The inspector will let you know if he or she has identified any non-compliances against the standards. The inspector will complete an assessment report, and send this to your certification officer in the office. The certification officer will review the report and either approve your certification, or advise you of any issues that need to be resolved.Your detailsYour name and contact details as a registered organic producer are required by EU Regulation to be placed in the public domain, and will be submitted to Defra for that purpose. All other information submitted by you to our inspector or to the Certification Office is strictly confidential. This information will only be released to Defra, Trading Standards, or to another approved organic certification body, and only for the purposes of verifying the organic integrity of food products produced or traded by your business. Here to helpPlease do get in touch at any time if you have any questions about certification, the standards, or the application process. We are a small friendly team and we want to support you to uphold the standards and achieve certification. We know there is a lot of information to take on board, and it’s better to check before you act if you are unsure! Please return your completed form by email to certification@.uk or by post to Demeter UK & BDA Certification, Painswick Inn Project, Stroud, Glos. GL5 1QGDemeter UK and BDA Organic CertificationAPPLICATION FORM and CONVERSION PLANFor conversion of farms, gardens and other holdingsright156210Please use this form to apply for organic or Demeter certification for your farm, market garden, vineyard, orchard or smallholding. Please fill out the form as best you can, and feel free to add pictures, use extra space, and attach any other supporting documents. If you are already certified with another certification body and want to transfer to our certification, please use our transfer form instead.020000Please use this form to apply for organic or Demeter certification for your farm, market garden, vineyard, orchard or smallholding. Please fill out the form as best you can, and feel free to add pictures, use extra space, and attach any other supporting documents. If you are already certified with another certification body and want to transfer to our certification, please use our transfer form instead.Please mark one option. It is possible to switch from organic to Demeter, or vice versa, at a later date if you wish. I am applying for organic conversionI am applying for Demeter and organic conversionYour contact detailsName of holding or businessContact personPositionTelephoneMobileEmail addressWebsiteHolding address Correspondence address (if different from holding address)If a different person is responsible for paying invoices, please give details here Your farming enterprisesPlease mark up your current enterprises and any changes planned within the conversion period. Feel free to add any enterprises we’ve missed out. Please note that if you are applying for Demeter conversion, all your enterprises must fully convert to Demeter status.EnterpriseCurrent, to continue and convertCurrent, to stop within 2 yearsCurrent, to continue as separate uncertifiedPlanning to start within 2 yearsDairy cattleBeef cattleSheepPigsDairy goatsMeat goatsTable birdsLaying birdsSilage/Hay/GrazingArable FlowersGreenhouse/tunnelsHerbsSoft fruitTop fruitVeg – field scaleVeg – garden scaleVineyardWoodlandDo you buy in anything directly from outside the UK?Do you sell anything directly outside of the UK?Have you been organic or Demeter certified in the past?If so, have you ever had certification suspended, denied or terminated?Simultaneous conversion versus non-simultaneous conversion?Most holdings applying?to go?in to?conversion with us choose?to go through simultaneous conversion, where land and livestock are converted at the same time. We will assume this is what you want to do as the default. However, it is also possible to?start the conversion of?your land?first, and?start the conversion of any livestock?later -?at the latest by the end of the conversion of the?land. This means you can continue to use non-organic feed, and?to?bring in non-organic livestock?without restriction,?until you start the livestock conversion.?Please indicate here if you want to go for a non-simultaneous conversion.?Your processing, packing and subcontractingNone of your products can be sold as ‘in-conversion’ until you have been through at least one year of conversion, and they cannot be sold as organic or Demeter until you have completed conversion. However, it’s helpful to have an idea now about any planned or existing processing, packing and subcontracting.Please list any packing or processing carried out on the holding for the products you want to have certified. This could include veg box schemes, milk bottling, yoghurt making, slaughter, butchery, drying, milling, preserves etc.If you buy in any ingredients as part of the processing and packing listed above, please give an indication of what and how much.If any other businesses carry out any processing, packing or storage for you, please fill in details below.This could include abattoir, butcher, juicing, milling, wine making etc.Name and address of subcontractorOrganic certified?What they do for youProductsYour landPlease note that if you applying for Demeter conversion the whole holding must be entered in to conversion, including any farmyard, and any unproductive or unused land.Total area of land being entered in to conversion, in hectaresTotal area of the holding, in hectaresIs your land in a designated Less Favoured Area (LFA) or a Severely Disadvantaged Area (SDA)?Please confirm that you have included a map of the holding with your application, with field numbers clearly indicated.Agricultural Holding Number (if available)If you use any common grazing, please give details. Include number of days grazing, presence of other livestockIf any of the land you use is rented from someone else, please give details.All the land you use must either be included in this application, or covered by another existing organic/Demeter licenseIf any land of the land included in this application is leased to tenants, please give details.If you (as an individual or an organisation) manage any other land, including other holdings, please give details. Reduced conversion?If there is evidence that your land has been farmed without use of any prohibited inputs, or if you keep only pigs or poultry, it is possible to request a reduction in the normal conversion time. Please indicate here if you would like to be considered for a reduced conversion.How your land was managed in the pastPlease list any inputs that have been applied to your land in the past five years. This should include fertilisers, soil amendments, herbicides and plant protection products. If possible, give the last date of application.Your field details and rotation planPlease include all the fields (including woods etc) that you wish to enter in to conversion. Please add more rows or continue on another sheet if necessary.We need to know accurate field sizes and, if you have them, field numbers.For grass, please state whether rough grazing, permanent pasture (more than 5 years), or temporary grass (less than 5 years).Field name(optional)IACS number or or OS reference(if available)Area (ha)Recent and planned crops or land useyear before last (20__)last year(20__)this year(20__ )next year(20__)year after next(20__ )Your farm buildingsPlease include a map or sketch of any farm buildings, including those used for livestock housing, and for storage and processing (eg grain silos, silage clamp, slurry pit, cold stores, hay barn, packing shed etc). The map does not have to be to scale, but you must include approximate measurements and, where relevant, capacity. For example, tell us the size of the barn and how many cattle are usually housed there over winter. It’s great if you can include a photo or two, and/or some description. Your livestock Please provide numbers of livestock currently on the holdingPlease include any livestock kept as pets, working animals, or for home consumption only. Please also include any significant numbers of seasonal or temporary livestock (e.g. turkeys, weaners, guest livestock), even if they are not currently on the holding. Use the comments section at the end to explain about pets, working animals, guest livestock, seasonal livestock, and any imminent changes to numbers and types of livestock on the holding.TypeBreedTotal NumberLivestock UnitsLivestock Units x number of livestockDairy CattleDairy Bull for Breeding1.2Dairy cows (up to 6000 litres milk yield)1Dairy Cows (6000 to 9000 litres milk yield)1Dairy Cows (over 9000 litres milk yield) 1Dairy Heifer Replacement 0 – 3 months0Dairy Heifer Replacement 3 – 12 months0.3Dairy Heifer Replacement 12 -24 months0.7Dairy Heifer Replacement over 2 years 1Dairy Beef 0 – 3 months0Dairy Beef 3 – 6 months0.3Dairy Beef 6 - 12 months0.3Dairy Beef 12 -24 months0.7Dairy Beef over 2 years1.0Beef cattlebreednumber= unitsBeef Bulls for Breeding1.2Suckler Cows for breeding1.0Beef Grower fattener 0 – 3 months0Beef Grower fattener 3 - 6 months0.3Beef Grower fattener 6 – 12 months0.3Beef Grower fattener 12 – 24 months0.7Beef Grower fattener over 2 years1Beef Heifer Replacement 0 - 3 months0.3Beef Heifer Replacement 3 – 6 months0.3Beef Heifer Replacement 6 – 12 months0.3Beef Heifer Replacement 12 – 24 months0.7Beef Heifer Replacement Over 2 years1Sheepbreednumber= unitsRams for breeding0.1Ewes for breeding0.1Ewe Lambs 0 – 6 months0Ewe lambs 6 – 12 months0.02Lambs for fattening 6 – 12 months0.02Gimmers and Hoggs to first lambing, tup or slaughter0.02Goatsbreednumber= unitsGoats for milking0.1Goats 0 – 6 months0Goats 6 -12 months0.02Goats over 12 months 0.1Pigsbreednumber= unitsBoar0.3Sow with piglets up to 7kg0.55Weaners 7-18 kg0.02Growers 18-35 kg0.06Cutters 35-85 kg0.16Baconers 85-105 kg0.16Gilts0.3Poultrybreednumber= unitsLaying hens0.0071Pullets to 18 weeks0.0036Table birds (chickens)0.0036Turkeys (males)0.0071Other poultry (specify):0.0036Otherbreednumber= unitsHorses, ponies0.8 -1.2Bees (number of hives)0Other Livestock on the holding (specify):Total Livestock UnitsAny comments or explanations on livestock numbersStocking DensityTotal ha of land for livestock and arable farmingTotal livestock units (as above)Stocking Density (total livestock units divided by total ha)Your conversion planIt is a requirement of the Demeter and organic standards that you have a conversion plan in place when you start organic or biodynamic conversion. This can help both you and us understand how converting to organic or Demeter status will impact your holding and change your practice. Please fill this out as best you can, but don’t worry if you don’t have all the details yet - and bear in mind that a good plan is always flexible and evolving! We love it if you can include some photos, and it’s fine to refer to other documents if you can include these with your application.Particularly if you are converting to Demeter/biodynamic, you need to hold in mind the concept of a ‘whole farm organism’ and demonstrate how you are moving towards closed loop systems.Your holdingDescribe briefly the landscape and location of the holding, the climate, soil, vegetation and people. Outline how the holding is run, including main crops, livestock and key systems, and any significant changes you plan to make.Your soil management and fertilityTell us about your soils and any cultivations you carry out, including any problems and any changes you plan to make to your practice.Describe how manure and compost is sourced, stored and managed on the holding.Outline how you maintain soil fertility, including how you use manures, composts, and any soil amendments, and how you use green manure and rotations. Mention any changes you plan to make to your practice or systems.Your management of weeds, pests and diseasesExplain how you manage weeds, including any problems and any planned changes to your practice.Outline how you control plant pests and diseases such as fungus, caterpillars, wireworm, etc, including any challenges and planned changes to your practice.Your use of biodynamic preparationsYou only need to fill out this section if you are applying for Demeter conversionTell us about how you will source or make the biodynamic field sprays and compost preparations, and how you will stir and apply them.If you have any other plans for use of biodynamic preparations, peppers or practices, please tell us about them here.Contamination risks on your holdingOutline any potential external sources of contamination such as spray drift, heavy industry etc, and any existing or planned measures to minimise risks.Biodiversity, landscape, people and community on your holdingDescribe any special features of your holding in terms of habitat, biodiversity and landscape, and tell us about any planned or existing measures to support biodiversity on the holding.Outline any planned or existing community initiatives, community building activities, collaborations or co-operative ventures connected with the holding.Outline how many people work on the holding as employees, volunteers or family. Describe how you will take care of each other so that you can take care of the holding.Your products and route to marketExplain how you currently sell or market your products and any planned changes as you go through conversion.Your livestock management and animal health planThis section is a big one, but it’s an important requirement of the organic and Demeter standards – you must have an up to date livestock management and animal health plan in place for all the livestock on your holding at all times. The plan will change as you evolve your strategies or face new challenges. It should be a living document.The plan should demonstrate the basic measures in place for supporting good animal health including choice of suitable breeds, and use of suitable housing, bedding, feed, water, free ranging and clean grazingdetail management points such as weaning, shearing, calving, castration, foot trimminginclude any recent, ongoing or likely health issues such as fly strike, worms, Tb, mastitis, injury etc, and any preventative measures and natural, herbal, homeopathic and allopathic treatments in usedescribe the system for transport and slaughter of livestock If you have more than one type of livestock, it may be easier to add in extra rows or submit a separate document, which can be in any format so long as you cover the key points. It is good practice to get your vet to look over your health plan and approve it. Livestock on the holdingList the livestock on the holding.Include:speciesbreed, and why you chose this breed for your holdingapproximate numbers Livestock management systemOutline the livestock management system for each type of livestock.For example: once a day milking, outwintered, raised from day old chicks, mob grazingLivestock housingDescribe any housing available for each type of livestock.Where relevant, include dimensions of housingtype of construction number of animals housedprovision of pop holes and perch spaceBedding or substrate used.How and when livestock housing is cleaned.Food and waterFeed ration for each type of livestock.Include all feed and forage, and any feed supplements.Indicatequantitystatus (organic/Demeter/in conversion)what is bought in and what is home grownExplain how livestock have access to drinking water at all times.Free ranging, grazing and access to outdoorsDescribe how you provide access to the outdoors, clean grazing and free ranging for each type of livestock.Where relevant include grazing systemsize of runprovision of cover/shelteraccess to water for waterfowlhow you manage pastureLivestock breedingDescribe your livestock breeding system.Where relevant include sourcing of youngstock or replacementswhat traits you select foruse of AI or natural servicemanagement of calving/lambing/farrowingDescribe how you care specifically for young stock.Where relevant includehatching/raising of chicksaccess to colostrumdealing with orphansweaningLivestock transport and slaughterDescribe how and when each type of livestock is transported.Include type of vehicle, loading system, distance/time likely to be in transit, and people authorised to transport livestock.Where relevant list the name and address of the abattoir used for each type of livestock.If you carry out slaughter on the farm, outline the system in place.Include your strategy for dealing with fallen stock.Health issues, preventative strategies and veterinary treatment Use this section to list specific health issues on your holding, and your current or planned strategies to minimise, eradicate and/or treat these issues. Recent, ongoing or likely health issuesPreventative strategiesTreatment or cureThis could include mineral deficiencies, parasites, behavioural issues, infections, minor injuries etcYou may want to include a note of the level of incidence and or how the long the problem has been in evidence.This could include management points such as shearing, careful grazing, and daily inspections.It could also include natural, herbal, homeopathic or allopathic treatments such as vinegar in drinking water and vaccinations.This could include natural, herbal, homeopathic and allopathic veterinary treatments.It could also include management points such as isolation from the herd or flock, bathing or shearing.Health issues, preventative strategies and veterinary treatmentList and justify any operations or mutilations carried out on livestockThis includes castrations, tail docking and disbudding. Bear in mind that you will need to apply for a derogation at your annual inspection to carry out any operations and mutilations. Detail any systems you have in place to avoid importing infectious diseases.This might include quarantine for bought in stock, double fencing around the perimeter of the holding, boot washing facilities for visitors, badger proofing of housing etc.Explain how and where you record all veterinary treatments. Confirm that you will record and observe twice the legal withholding period for all vet treatments.Give the name and contact details of your vet.DeclarationI seek organic, or Demeter and organic, certification, as indicated at the top of this form.I will, on an on-going basis, comply with the BDA Certification Organic and Demeter Standards as revised from time to time. (All revisions to the standards will be notified to you).I agree to allow authorised BDA Certification personnel access to all aspects of my business for the purposes of certification including provision for examining documentation and records. I further agree to keep a record, and make available upon request, of any and all complaints that relate to my certified activities and products and to document all actions taken in response to such complaints.I will notify the BDA Certification Office without delay before making any significant changes to the operation of this holding from those set out in this Application Form. (Significant changes means any new enterprises, additional land, products or scopes. Please contact the certification office if you are unsure.)In the event of non-compliance with the standards, I will rectify the non-compliance within a specified time if I am to maintain my holding’s certification or in-conversion status. (This clause is subject to an appeals procedure as laid down in the BDA Certification Operating Manual.). Upon suspension, withdrawal or termination of my certification, I agree to discontinue the use of any and all advertising material that references Demeter UK and BDA Certification or any of its certification schemes.I accept that all certification documentation remains the property of Demeter UK and BDA Certification and any reproduction of these documents for the purposes of verification and trade, will be done so in exact entirety.In the event of withdrawal or suspension of certification from one or all of my products, I agree to inform in writing the buyers of those products that those products are no longer certified.I accept that the Certification Board is responsible for the final decisions regarding certification.I agree to make claims regarding certification only for those scopes that I am certified to and I will not use my certification in such a manner that brings BDA Certification into disrepute. I further agree to use the Demeter logo, BDA Organic logo and EU Organic logo only on food products for which I hold a valid certificate.I accept that the BDA may release information relating to my inspection and/or certification to Defra, Trading Standards, another approved organic certification body, Demeter International or another national Demeter organisation but only for the purposes of verifying the organic and biodynamic integrity of food products produced or traded by my business.I agree to pay BDA Certification the annual certification fee in accordance with the published fee scale and within the time frame indicated on each invoice.I agree to be bound by the above declaration. I confirm that the information in this form is correct and is based on the most up-to-date picture of this holding.Signature of responsible personNameDateI have signed this form electronically ................
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